Continuing with the idea of clearing the backlog of gel and ballpoint pens that I’d like to review, I’d like to present the Zebra Jimnie Gel Pen.
I personally picked this pen up on a whim and the school bookstore, having never heard of it before and thinking that it would be fun experiment. I’ve already reviewed it once unofficially, but it’s time to put it into my records.
The Zebra Jimnie is a rollerball pen with a quick-drying Gen ink. It has a clear plastic body which allows users to see the interior of the pen and is super light-weight, weighing in at 10 grams. While I have said in the past that I like pens with a bit more heft, this is actually the expected weight of a pen in this category for me. The pen body is torpedo shaped, being quite slender at its thickest point, and tapering sharply towards the end. It’s also a bit longer than many of my fountain pens, which surprised me as it really appears to be quite short. The cap is also clear and bears a plastic clip that is hefty, though perhaps not well connected. The grip is a soft rubber, and slightly moulded, and matches the colour of the refill, which can be black or blue.
When you stack up the Jimnie against other pens of it’s category, it comes off a bit minimalistic. There’s typically a bit more colour. Now, I personally like the sleek design, and can’t imagine people being too concerned about the looks of a disposable pen, but then, I care about the looks of a disposable pen. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. So, for what it’s worth, I quite like it.
The writing experience of this pen is quite good. It comes in a 0.7mm tip that glides across the page and lays down a rich line. I did not have any problems with consistency or skipping, and though the line is not as rich as liquid ink, I find it on par with other pens in this category. The dry time is practically non-existent, which means that the quick drying ink live up to its name and is good for left-handed people like me: a pleasant surprise for a gel ink pen. However, it should be noted that this isn’t the common experience. While researching this pen, I cam across a lot of complaints about the quality. I seem to have gotten a good one, but your mileage, as they say, may vary.
That said, I have a hard time not recommending this pen. The quality consistency is a concern in this regard, and serves as my one caveat, but I’d say give this pen a go. It ranges in price from $1 to $2, but is a decent option in this category.
This pen was purchased with my own funds.
The Pen Lover's Nook 